Tap for barrels or casks.



' No. 773,175. PATENTED 007. 25, 1904.

M. WARREN.

TAP FOR BARRBLS 0R GASKS.

APPLICATION .TFILED DEC. 19, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented October 25, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

MARION INARREN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ROCHESTER BUN GINGAPPARATUS COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A COR- PORATION OF NEW YORK.

TAP FOR BARRELS OR CASKS= SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters PatentNo. 773,175, dated October 25, 1904. Application filed December 19,1903. Serial No. 185,802. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARION WARREN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York,have invented an Improved Tap for- Barrels or Casks, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to taps for barrels, casks, &c., and particularlyto that class of taps for such purposes in which there is located orcontained a valve arranged to be operated by a suitable wrench fromwithout the cask or barrel.

Taps for beer or ale barrels or casks as now 5 made are frequentlyprovided with a valve arranged to be operated from the outside of thebarrel, usually by means of a combined faucet and wrench of such aconstruction and so arranged to cooperate with features of the tap,bung, or bushing for the barrel that when the combined faucet andtap-Wrench is so turned as to open the valve such faucet is firmly heldwithin the bushing, so as to make a tight joint therewith, and in orderto re- 5 move the combined tap-wrench and faucet from the bushing it isnecessary to first so turn such combined tap and wrench as to close thevalve in such bushing or tap. Such a combined tap-wrench and faucet isusually 3 connected by means of a hose to a source of supply for gas orair under pressure for charging the barrel therewith before the rackingof the beer or ale into the barrel or cask, and the beer or ale isforced into such cask under pressure slightly in excess of that of thegas or air with which the barrel is first charged. The barrel is thenfilled with the beer or ale through another bushing and-by means of acombinedtap-wrench and faucet cooperating 4 therewith and beingconnected by means of a suitable hose to a source of supply for suchbeer or ale under pressure, and by, the removal of the combinedtap-Wrenches and fau cets the valves in the bushings or taps in thebarrels or casks are closed. The character of the motion which isimparted to the combined tap-wrench and faucet in opening and closingthe valve in such a tap or bushing for a barrel or cask is preferably ofa rotary character, and on this account heretofore rotary 5 valves havebeen used in such taps to a large extent. To the use of a rotary valveunder such circumstances there has frequently arisen a serious objectionon account of the friction between the valve and its seat and theliability 5 5 of the valve to stick and also in the uneven wear of theparts, causing such valve to leak after a little use. To overcome theseobjections, and at the same time take advantage of i the rotary motionof the combined faucet and wrench to open and close a valve upon theinside of the bushing or tap, is the object of my present invention.

Another object of my invention is to provide a valve which Will befirmly retained in its closed position by a strong spring or the actionof an elastic medium and with such pressure of such spring or elasticmedium at its maximum when the valve is closed. This feature ofconstruction in my valve results in overcoming the difliculty usuallyencountered in rotating valves, in that such valves frequently needtightening in order to prevent their leakage, resulting in a stillfurther complication to render such tightening possible.

Another feature of my present invention consists in providing a valveand its seat of such a character that a tight joint between such valveand its seat may be readily secured by means of heavy pressure, causingthem to exactly conform to each other, and this same pressure I takeadvantage of to secure the necessary cooperating position of the partsfor their proper assembling.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown 8 5 my invention as applied tothat style of a tap or bushing for a barrel or cask in which the valveis arranged to be operated by a combined tap-wrench and faucet such asabove mentioned and having a quadrangular socket 9 for engaging asimilarly-conformed operating-head on the valve-operating rod.

Such drawings are as follows: Figure 1 is a vertical central section ofa bushing constructed in accordance with my invention and with thebottom or inside end wall of the bushing shown as full. In this figurethe l alves at the bottom of such bushing are shown opened, and there isalso shown in this ligure the extreme lower end of a combined tapwrenchand faucet so turned as to open such valves. Fig. 2 is a view from theunder side of the parts as seen in Fig. 1 with the portion of the staveS, in which such bushing is inserted, omitted from Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 1, but with the combined tapwrench and faucetremoved and with the valves shown as having been closed by the turningof such faucet and tap-wrench before its removal. Fig. 4 is a view fromthe under side of the parts as seen in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view of theunder side of my bushing or tap and with the valves and theoperating-rod and cross-bar removed. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of aportion of the lower end of my bushing or tap, showing only one of thevalves in position therein as partly open and with the operating-rod andcross'piece also removed. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of theoperatingrod and cross-piece used in my tap or bushing. Fig. 8 is a topor plan view of the upper end of the tubular extension (0, formed on thebottom of the bushing. Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of one ofthe valves detached. Fig. 10 is a side view of one of such valves,showing, partially in section, also the manner of forming thebearing-surface of such valve. Fig. 11 is a side view of the crosspiecesecured to the operating-rod B for the valves of my bushing.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, my tap or bushing consists of a shell A,threadedexteriorly, so as to be screwed into the stave S of the barrelor cask, as indicated in section in Fig. 1. This bushing is chamberedinteriorly, as indicated, and has formed therein the inwardlyprojeetingrim 0, which is turned off true to form a seat for the elasticpacking-ring a, secured on the operating-faucet and tap-wrench F. Onthis tap-wrench F are seen projections f, arranged to engage inclinedgrooves f therefor in the body of the bushing A and so cor'iperatingtherewith that the turning of the combined faucet and tap-Wrench F overto the right forces the same downwardly, so as to secure a tight jointbetween the packing-ring a and the seat 0 therefor. This combinedtap-wrench and faucet F is hollow, as indicated, and at its lower end isformed a socket for the operating-head 7) of the valve-operating-rod B.Suitable openings 7" are provided in the lower end ofthis combinedtap-wrench and faucet F for the passage therethrough and into the boreof such faucet of the beer or ale from or to the barrel or of the air orgas under pressure to or from the barrel or cask.

The parts as thus far described are substantially those in use to-day inmany places and already well known in the art. l

Projecting upwardly from the base of the bushingA is seen a tubularprojection a, bored out on the inside to fit the valve-rod B andcorrugated on its upper end surface, as indicated in Fig. 8, to make atight joint with the block-tin washer 5 secured upon the under side ofthe enlarged portion 6 which is formed integrally with the rod B. Alsoformed integrally with this red B is seen the projecting section b,which is of such a diameter that it can just pass through the opening inthe seat 0 of the bushing A. The purpose of this last section 7/ is toprevent the opening of the valves E by a rod or stick being passed downwithin the bushing and caused to engage such valves and. press themdownwardly. Hence this section 7/ is so located that its longestextensions lie over the valves E when such valves are closed. lVithinthe bottom of the bushing A are seen two openings 0, arranged to beclosed by the valves E in the manner to be explained, such openingsbeing shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The conformation and construction of thesevalves E is more clearly indicated in Figs. 6 to 9 and 10. Each of thesevalves E, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 10, has a block-tin sectiona, suitably secured in a rabbet therein and arranged to come in contactwith the valve-seats in the openings 6. The purpose of this block-tinsection a, will be explained, is to provide a medium which will becaused to so conform to the valve-seat in the opening a as to secure atight joint therewith by pressure, and preferably pressure exerted atthe same time that the parts of the valve-operating mechanism aresecured together. As indicated in the drawings, these valves E aresuitably hinged to ears Z, extending downwardly from and formedintegrally with the bottom of the bushing A, such hinging mechanismconsisting in the pins or rivets 32, secured tightly in the ears 6 andworking freely in suitable holes therefor in the valves E.

The valve-operating mechanism for my bushing or tap consists in thefollowing elements, viz: The operating-rod B has a head I), conformed tolit and be engaged by the socket therefor in the lower end of thecombined faucet and tap-wrench F, and beneath this operating-head b isseen the projecting section b, the purpose and function of which hasalready been described, and beneath this the section I), carrying theblock-tin washer 6 secured thereto, which'under pressure, as will beexplained, is caused to conform to the corrugations on the upper endsurface of the tubular section a. This rod B, as explained, works freelythrough the tubular extension (4 and has thereon a flattened portion 6,commencing just even with the lower surface of the lower end of thebushing A. This flattened portion Z) extends downwardly and through asuitable opening therefor in the cross-piece .sand is held therein bymeans of 'IIO the pin r, passed through a hole therefor in the lower endof this flattened portion 5 of the rod B. This pin 1' is slightlyflattened on its upper surface where it engages the crosspiece 8, andthe spring of this cross-piece s, as will be explained, forces the samedownwardly against the flattened portions of the pin 7' lying just eachside of the flattened portion 7) of the rod B, so as to prevent such pin1' from either turning-0r being withdrawn from the hole therefor in thisflattened portion Z) of the rod B.

I will now describe the manner of assembling the parts of my bushing.

The valves E are hinged to the ears Z in the manner already described bymeans of the pins p therefor. The operating-rod B, with the cross-pieces and the pin 1* removed therefrom, is passed down through the tubularelement or projection a and until the washer of block tin 5 comes incontact with the tubular projection a, and then the valves Eare closedand the cross-piece s is placed over them and subjected to heavypressure, so as to spring such cross-piece 8 out nearly straight, atwhich time the pin 1' may be freely inserted in the hole therefor in theflattened portion 6* of the rod B and so turned that theflattenedportions of such pin 7" will be engaged by the adjacent sides of thecross-piece s and firmly held in position thereby when the pressure hasbeen removed from such cross-piece and the same allowed to spring backas far as permitted by this pin 7'. Preferably before the assembling ofthe parts the valves E should of the parts the tap-wrench and faucetFmay be inserted over the head Z) of the rod B. Each of these valvesEcarries an outwardlyrojectin horn or cam 6 arran ed to be enb p b gagedby this cross-piece s, and thus open the valves E, as indicated in Figs.1 and 2, when this rod B is turned a quarter of a revolution by thefaucet and tap-wrench FQ The conformation and cooperation of the partsjust described is such that the spring cross-piece s is subjected tomaximum tension at the time when it is holding the valves E in theirclosed positions.

What I claim is- 1. A tap for a barrel or cask comprising the followingelements,viz., a hollow bushing having an opening in the wall thereof, avalve for closing such opening hinged to such bushing and arranged toopen inwardly relatively to the cask or barrel, a rotatablevalve-operating rod, a bearing for such rod carried by such bushing,spring or elastic connections between such rod and such valve whereby amotion upon its axis of such rod 1n one dlrection opens such valve andin the other direction closes such valve.

2. A tap for a barrel or cask comprislng the following elements, viz., ahollow bushing,

having an opening in the wall thereof, a valve for closing such openinghlnged to such bushing and arranged toopen inwardly relatively to thecask or barrel, a rotatable valve-operating rod, a bearing for such rodcarried by such bushing, spring or elastic connections between such rodand such valve whereby a motion upon its axis of such rod in onedirection opens such valve and in the other direction closes such valvewith maximum pressure exerted thereon when in its closed posi tion.

3. A tap for a barrel or cask comprising the following elements, viz., ahollow bushing having openings in the Wall thereof, valves for closingsuch openings hinged to such bushing and arranged to open inwardlyrelatively to the cask or barrel, a rotatable valve-operating rod, abearing for such rod carried'by such bushing, spring or elasticconnections between such rod and such valves whereby a motion upon itsaxis of such rod in one direction opens such valves and in the otherdirection closes such valves.

4. A tap for a barreLor cask comprising the following elements, viz., ahollow bushing having openings in the Wall thereof, valves 2 for closingsuchopenings hinged to such bush-c ing in the wall thereof. a valve forclosing such opening hinged to such bushing and arbearing for such rodcarried by such bushing, spring or elastic connections between such rodand such'valve whereby a motion upon its axis of such rod in onedirection opens such valve and in the other direction closes such valve,in combination with a combined tapwrench and faucet insertible androtatable Within such bushing and arranged to operate such valve rod andhaving a cam surface thereon cooperating with the cam-surfacein suchbushing to make a tight joint between ranged to open inwardly relativelyto the cask I or barrel, a rotatable valve-operating rod, a

such bushing and such combined tap-wrench and faucet when suchtap-wrench is turned to open such valve and also operating to preventthe removal of such tap-wrench and faucet except when such valve isclosed thereby.

6. A tap for a barrel or cask comprising the following elements, viZ., ahollow bushing containing a cam-surface and having an opening in thewall thereof, a valve for closing such opening hinged to such bushingand arranged to open inwardly relatively to the cask or barrel, arotatable valve-operating rod, a bearing for such rod carried by suchbushing, spring or elastic connections between such rod and such valvewhereby a motion upon its axis of such rod in one direction. opens suchvalve and in the other direction closes such valve with maximum pressureexerted thereon when in its closed position, in combination with acombined tap-wrench and faucet insertible and rotatable within saidbushing and arranged to operate such valve-rod and hav ing a cam-surfacethereon cooperating with the cam-surface in such bushing to make a tightjoint between such bushing and such combined tap-wrench and faucet whensuch tap-wrench is turned to open such valve and also operating toprevent the removal of such tap-wrench and faucet except when such valveis closed thereby.

7. A tap for a barrel or cask comprising the following elements, viz., ahollow bushing containing a cam-surface and having openings in the wallthereof, valves for closing such openings hinged to such bushing andarranged to open inwardly relatively to the cask or barrel, a rotatablevalve operating rod, a bearing for such rod carried by such bushing,spring or elastic connections between such rod and such valves whereby amotion upon its axis of such rod in one direction opens such valves andin the other direction closes such valves, in combination with acombined tap-wrench and faucet insertible and rotatable within suchbushing and arranged to operate such valve-rod and having a camsurfacethereon cooperating with the camsurface in such bushing to make a tightjointbetween such bushing and such combined tap-wrench and faucet whensuch tap-wrench is turned to open such valves and also operating toprevent the removal of such tap-wrench and faucet except when suchvalves are closed thereby.

'8. A tap for a barrel or cask comprising the following elements, viz.,a hollow bushing containing a cam-surface and having openings in thewall thereof, valves for closing said openings hinged to such bushingand arranged to open inwardly relatively to the cask or barre], arotatable valve-operating rod, a bearing for such rod carried by suchbushing, spring or elastic connections between such rod and such valveswhereby a motion upon its axis of such rod in one direction opens suchvalves and in the other direction closes such valves with maximul'npressure exerted thereon when in their closed position, in combinationwith a combined tap-wrench and faucet insertible and rotatable withinsuch bushing and arranged to operate such valve-rod and having acam-surface thereon cooperating with the cam-surface in such bushing tomake a tight joint between such bushing and suclncombined tap-wrench andfaucet when such tapwrench is turned to open such Valves and alsooperating to prevent the removal of such tapwrench and faucet exceptwhen such valves are closed thereby.

9. A tap for a barrel or cask comprising the following elements,viz. ahollow bushing having an opening in the wall thereof, avalve for closingsuch opening hinged to such bushing and arranged to open inwardlyrelatively to the cask or barrel, a rotatable valve-operating rod, abearing for such rod carried by such bushing, such bearing containedwithin the opening through such bushing for the ingress and egress ofgas or liquids to and from such barrel or cask, connections between suchrod and such valve whereby a motion upon its axis of such rod in onedirection opens such valve and in the other direction closes such valve.

10. A tap for a barrel or cask comprising the following elements, viz.,a hollow bushing having openings in the wall thereof,valves for closingsuch openings hinged to such bushing and arranged to open inwardlyrelatively to the cask or barrel, a rotatable valve-operating rod, abearing for such rod carried by such bushing, such bearing containedwithin the opening through such bushing for the ingress and egress ofgas or liquids to and from such barrel or cask, connections between suchrod and such valves whereby a motion upon its axis of such rod in onedirection opens such valves and in the other direction closes suchvalves.

11. A tap for a barrel or cask comprising the following elements, viz.,a hollow bushing containing a cam-surface and having an opening in thewall thereof, a valve for closing such opening hinged to such bushingand arranged to open inwardly relatively to the cask or barrel, arotatable valve-operating rod, a bearing for such. rod carried by suchbushing, such bearing contained within the opening through such bushingfor the ingress and egress of gas or liquids to and from such barrel orcask, connections between such rod and such valve whereby a motion uponits axis of such rod in one direction opens such valve and in the otherdirection closes such valve, in combination with a combined tap-wrenchand faucet insertible and rotatable within such bushing and arranged tooperate such valve-rod and having a cam -surface thereon cooperatingwith the cam-surface in such bushing to make a tight joint between suchbushing and such IIO combined tap-wrench and faucet when such tap-wrenchis turned to open such valve and also operating to prevent the removalof such tap-wrench and faucet except When such valve is closed thereby.

12. A tap for a barrel or cask comprising the following elements, viz.,a hollow bushing containing a cam-surface and having openings in thewall thereof, valves for closing such openings hinged to such bushingand arranged to open inwardly relatively to the. cask or barrel, arotatable valve-operating rod, a bearing for such rod carried by suchbushing, such bearing contained within the opening through such bushingfor the ingress and egress of gas or liquids to and from such barrel orcask, connections between such rod and such valves whereby a motion uponits axis of such rod in one direction opens such valves and in the otherdirection closes such valves, in combination with a combined tap-wrenchand faucet insertible and rotatable within such bushing and arranged tooperate such valve-rod and having a cam surface thereon cooperating withthe cam-surface in such bushing to make a tight joint between suchbushing and such combined tap-wrench and faucet when such tap-wrench isturned to open such valves and also operating to prevent the removal ofsuch tap-wrench and faucet except when such valves are closed thereby.

13. A tap for a barrel or cask comprising the following elements, viz.,a hollow bushing having an opening in the wall thereof, a valve forclosing such opening hinged to such bushing and arranged to openinwardly relatively to the cask or barrel, a rotatable valve-operatingrod,a bearingfor such rod carried by such bushing, such bearingcontained within the opening through such bushing for the ingress andegress of gas or liquids to and from such barrel or cask, spring orelastic connections between such rod and such valve whereby a motionupon its axis of such rod in one direction opens such valve and in theother direction closes such valve.

14. A tap for abarrel or cask comprising the following elements, viz., ahollow bushing having an opening in the wall thereof, a valve forclosing such opening hinged to such bushing and arranged to openinwardly relatively to the cask or barrel, a rotatable valve-operatingrod, a bearing for such rod carried by such bushing, such bearingcontained within the opening through such bushing for the ingress andegress of gas or liquids to and from such barrel or cask, spring orelastic connections between such rod and such valve whereby a motionupon its axis of such rod in one direction opens such valve and in theother direction closes such valve with maximum pressure exerted thereonwhen in its closed position.

15. A tap for a barrel or cask comprising the following elements, viz.,a hollow bushing having openings in the wall thereof, valves for closingsuch openings hinged to such bushing and arranged to open inwardlyrelatively to the cask or barrel, a rotatable valve-operating rod, abearing for such rod carried by such bushing, such bearing containedwithin the opening through such bushing for the ingress and egress ofgas or liquids to and from such barrel or cask, spring or elasticconnections between such rod and such valves whereby a motion upon itsaxis of such rod in one direction opens such valves and in the otherdirection closes such valves.

16. A tap for a barrel or cask comprising the following elements, viz. ahollow bushing having openings in the wall thereof, valves for closingsuch openings hinged to such bushing and arranged to open inwardlyrelatively to the cask or barrel, a rotatable valve-operating rod, abearing for such rod carried by such bushing, such bearing containedwithin the opening through such bushing for the ingress and egress ofgas or liquids to and from such barrel or cask, spring or elasticconnections between such rod and such valves'whereby a motion upon itsaxis of such rod in one direction opens such valves and in the otherdirection closessuch valves with maximum pressure exerted thereon whenin their closed position.

MARION WARREN.

Witnesses:

OSBORNE F. GURNEY, CLARA M. LIENER.

